Does Emotional Intelligence Matter in Interpersonal Processes? The Mediating Role of Emotion Management *

Researchers have identified emotional intelligence (EI) as an important individual characteristic that predicts interpersonal effectiveness. In this study, we identified three potential areas of emotion management (emotion expression, emotion recognition, and shaping counterpart emotion) that may be promoted by intrapersonal and interpersonal EI, and may mediate the effects of EI on interpersonal process and outcomes. Our analysis of data from a dyadic negotiation simulation indicates that EI predicts one aspect of emotion management (shaping counterpart emotion). Intrapersonal EI (but not interpersonal EI) increased counterpart positive emotion and decreased counterpart negative emotion during the negotiation simulation. Nevertheless, the overall relationship between EI and emotion management was weak. The present study highlighted the need for clearly conceptualizing and investigating emotional management through which individuals accrue interpersonal and performance benefits.